Starting with the Memorial Day weekend, the Broncos are taking their vacation. So are most NFL teams.

The NFL labor dispute is tied up in courts along the Mississippi River corridor from St. Paul to St. Louis. Might as well close the doors at Dove Valley until the NFL is ready to do business. Pat Bowlen, Joe Ellis, John Elway, John Fox, Brian Xanders and all their minions will be difficult to reach for the next couple weeks.

Only the timing of the summer vacation is unusual. In the previous two offseasons under coach Josh McDaniels, the Broncos had their final minicamp around June 15. There would be another week or two of conditioning and then everybody ske-daddled until training camp commenced in the final days of July.

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen departs and is trailed by reporters after owners and the players union failed to reach an agreement in labor talks on March 11, 2011, in Washington, D.C. (Jonathan Ernst, Getty Images)

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has sent an open letter to Broncos fans apologizing for the NFL’s labor impasse.

“You have every right to be disappointed and frustrated with the lack of a collective bargaining agreement … As owner of the Denver Broncos and co-chair of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee, I want to say that I share your level of frustration.

The Broncos’ five-headed leadership team seems set for 2011. Pat Bowlen to Joe Ellis to John Elway to Brian Xanders to John Fox.

The one perhaps most responsible for the upcoming NFL Draft? That would be Xanders, the Broncos’ general manager.

Xanders will handle the day-to-day personnel issues, including player transactions and will be out front in contract talks with players. He will oversee the team’s draft board and coordinate the team’s scouting staffs for both pro personnel and the annual draft. He’ll report directly to Elway.

So, wanna know who the Broncos might chase in the draft? What the latest news is on Champ Bailey? What position the team might shore up first?

Oblivious to the speculation that says he’s the leading candidate to become the Broncos’ next head coach, Rick Dennison was at the Houston Texans’ office Thursday finishing up his offensive cutup film of his team’s 2010 season.

In other words, Dennison as of this minute remains the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator.

The Broncos’ media/video department, which under the leadership of Kyle Sonneman, Chris Hall and Gray Caldwell has to be the NFL’s best, have posted behind-the-scenes videos of Broncos’ head coaching candidates Perry Fewell and Eric Studesville as they were heading into their respective interviews Sunday.

Most revealing is who’s in the interview room. Along with the candidate, there is John Elway, Brian Xanders and Joe Ellis, all of whom you would expect. There is also a headhunter from an executive search firm. This guy helped provides the Broncos’ brass with questions but I’ve been told he will not be part of the decision-making process.

The room’s surprise is head trainer Steve “Greek” Antonopulos. Then again, Greek has been the Broncos’ head trainer for 35 years. Pat Bowlen — who is not in the room — has only owned the team for 27 years.

Bring Jim Harbaugh home with him from Miami and John Elway goes from inexperienced Broncos front-office boss to leading candidate for NFL executive of the year.

Shouldn’t the Broncos, with the Stanford-alum Elway about to head up their front office and in possession of the No. 2 overall draft choice, take their mightiest cuts at attempting to land Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Andrew Luck — the NFL equivalent of back-to-back grand slams?

If Harbaugh wants to join his brother John in the NFL head coaching fraternity, the timing will never be better than it is now. Jim Harbaugh is the hottest NFL head coaching candidate since Jason Garrett following the 2007 season.

The lights were on and team COO Joe Ellis was on the job Monday at Dove Valley, talking to a shadowy, unseen figure. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Just talked to now former Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. When he was dismissed at 4 p.m. today by team owner Pat Bowlen and chief operating officer Joe Ellis, McDaniels was told he would receive the contractural buyout particulars through his agent Bob LaMonte tomorrow.

There was no mention McDaniels would be dismissed “for cause,” which would allow the team to get out of some financial obligation because of the video violation. Which makes sense because first, Ellis said in a national media conference call last week that McDaniels’ misconduct for failing to report the violation was not a fireable offense. Secondly, Bowlen has always fulfilled every contract he’s signed with head coaches.

Here is the full text of the statement released tonight by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen:

“My decision to relieve Josh McDaniels as head coach was not taken lightly. I will always be appreciative of his passion, enthusiasm and hard work, and I thank him for his efforts.

“In the end, I was not satisfied with the results and the direction this team was headed. The decision to make a change was extremely difficult but one that needed to be made for this organization and our fans.

“Everyone, myself included, is accountable for our disappointing season and is now responsible for restoring the culture of winning that has been established by this franchise. Our entire organization is completely focused on returning to the level of prosperity that our fans expect and deserve from the Denver Broncos.”

First, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said Josh McDaniels is coming back to coach his team next year.

Then, Bowlen read his words and realized they came out a little stronger than he intended so he put out a more carefully worded statement that said he’ll evaluate at season’s end.

What Bowlen means is this: McDaniels is absolutely, positively coming back — unless the Broncos go 0-5 or 1-4 with a couple blowout losses in the final five games. Bowlen isn’t counting on that happening.

McDaniels will be a better coach next year if he can bring in a couple more athletic defensive players. It starts with a healthy Elvis Dumervil.

The Broncos have played their best two homes while wearing those alternate orange jerseys, including yesterday’s 49-29 win against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I love the orange jerseys,” coach Josh McDaniels said. “I know we’re only allowed to wear them twice in the regular season and once in the preseason, unless we make them our standard uniform.”

So, that begs the question: Why not make the orange jerseys the standard home attire? Why not ditch the navy blues?

“That decision to make them our permanent uniform would come from Pat,” McDaniels said, referring to team owner Pat Bowlen.

McDaniels said he would be in favor of the switch, should Bowlen and Co. be inclined to make a move. I think many fans would agree.

“I wouldn’t mind it at all,” McDaniels said. “I think we get excited, and the whole thing, everything, from when you walk in the locker room and have all the orange jerseys, it looks different. It wouldn’t bother me at all.”

Your turn, Broncos fans: Would you like to see the team wear orange all the time at home?

Atlanta — Albert Pujols isn’t the only St. Louis sports figure going for the Triple Crown (come on, Joey Votto! The heck with driving the ball, kid. Hit for average).

By about this time tomorrow, Stan Kroenke should clinch the Triple Crown of sports ownership. Kroenke, in the name of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, has owned the NHL Colorado Avalanche and NBA Denver Nuggets since 2000. He has owned 40 percent of the NFL St. Louis Rams since 1995.

Six years into Bailey’s seven-year contract, it’s already fair to argue the Champ is the best defensive player in Broncos’ history. Also in the discussion are Randy Gradishar, Louis Wright, Karl Mecklenburg, Rich Jackson and Steve Atwater/Dennis Smith/Billy Thompson. Pass rusher Elvis Dumervil needs a couple more Elvis-like years before he’s included in the best-ever-Denver-D-player topic.

Which gets me to thinking: For all the angst regarding Dumervil’s contract, his situation is in many ways no different than Bailey’s.

Both are under contract for one more year. Both will become unrestricted free agents after this year.

Both would command enormous multi-year contracts that average north of $12 million a year.

Sure, there are obvious differences: Dumervil is 26, coming off an NFL-leading 17-sack season and is getting paid $3.168 million for 2010; Bailey is 32, coming off a 3-interception season, and will collect a $13 million salary.

Still, it puts team owner Pat Bowlen in a tough spot. The Broncos have taken some serious public-relations hits for not yet getting Dumervil under contract. Think of the local public uprising that would occur if they allow Champ to walk.

I don’t see how Bowlen, who has been tightening up his expenses the past two or three years, can afford to bring back Bailey and Dumervil after this season. Maybe he can franchise one, and work out a long-term deal for the other. But that strategy may fail as even a temporary fix as it could be cost-prohibitive for both the Broncos’ 2011 cash budget and 2011 salary cap, assuming there is one.

Bailey has already come out in full support of Dumervil getting his market value. And Dumervil would no doubt stand behind Bailey’s right to play three or four more years with the Broncos.

But if you’re the person balancing Bowlen’s financial books, you might conclude the pass rusher and the cornerback are working against each other.

I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say the jury’s decision to find Willie Clark guilty on all counts in the murder of Darrent Williams is the most exciting news to hit Broncoland since the team reached the AFC Championship Game following the 2005 season.

Let there be no doubt, Broncos fans, Darrent Williams’ murder had a profound impact on Denver’s organization. It has never been quite the same at Dove Valley since the horrific New Year’s night hours after the team’s final regular-season loss on Dec. 31, 2006.

The guilty verdicts will not bring the great D-Will back. We know that. But now, some closure. It’s over. No more looking back. Broncoland can now move forward.

I’m happy for Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who gave a stirring testimony at Williams’ memorial service in Texas. I’m happy for Champ Bailey, who I watched fall out of line, unable to follow the long procession of Broncos who visited Darrent’s open casket. I’m happy for Tatum Bell, who cried while trying to talk about his former college and Broncos teammate, and John Lynch, whose testimony was memorable.

I’m happy for Jeff Griffin and Troy Asmus, who as Darrent’s agent/marketing reps, continued to serve him three years later. More than three years after Darrent left our world, Asmus and Griff took turns sitting beside Rosalind, Darrent’s mom, each day in the Denver courtroom during the Willie Clark trial.

I’m happy for my colleague Bill Williamson, who was closer than most of us were to Darrent Williams, which is why he represented the media while speaking at his service.

And I’m ecstatic for Rosalind, Darrent’s mom. If you’re driving by the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center in Montbello, or just thinking of the Broncos’ cornerback who will remain forever young in our minds and hearts, this might be the time to make a donation.

Bailey, who getting ready for his 12th NFL season, sixth with the Broncos, and Lynch, who retired in 2008 following 15 NFL seasons, will co-chair a fundraiser for the Darrent Williams Teen Center in September.

Talk about it around the water cooler if you wish. E-mail to your heart’s content.

Pat Bowlen ain’t selling the Broncos. In recent years, Bowlen, who is 5 days away from his 66th birthday, has occassionally stated _ rather morbidly, come to think of it _ that he planned on dying with his boots on.

I just asked him if he was still committed to owning the Broncos until his dying day.

“”What the hell am I going to do? Retire and play golf everyday?” Bowlen said. “”That would drive me nuts.’’

Last week, ProFootballTalk.com _ a website widely read within the NFL industry _ reported it had heard a rumor that Bowlen may be interested in selling the Broncos. He has owned the team the past 26 years.

Not only is Bowlen still way too young to sell, he’s fitter than most men 40 years younger.

“’Yeah, I work out every day,” he said. “”I’m not in shape to do the Ironman tomorrow, but I try to keep moving.’’

Wednesday, Broncos officials refuted a rumor that they would be interested in acquiring Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Thursday, Broncos chief operating officer Joe Elllis strongly refuted an internet report that Broncos owner Pat Bowlen was said to be shopping the team.

“The team is not for sale. The rumor is false,” Ellis said.

Ellis gave his emphatic response amid speculation that the St. Louis Rams are for sale. Reports have said that if Urbana, Ill., businessman Shahid Khan’s bid meets the NFL’s approval, then Khan would then try to buy the 40 percent of the team currently owned by Avalanche and Nuggets owners Stan Kroenke.

The reports then speculated that Kroenke, could then try to buy the Broncos. However,Kroenke, because of the NFL’s cross-ownership rules, cannot buy a majority stake in the Rams or another NFL team if he owns the majority stake in another major-league sports franchise in another NFL team’s home market.

Brandon Marshall celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Doug Benc/Getty Images)

It’s when, not if.

It’s when Brandon Marshall is traded, not if. It’s not what the Broncos are going to get in return. It’s what Marshall’s future area code is going to be.

The issue isn’t so much that the Broncos are going to trade Marshall, most likely in March. The real story here is why.

Clearly, Pat Bowlen and Joe Ellis, his right-hand man, had an agenda when they hired Josh McDaniels to replace Mike Shanahan. It wasn’t just a matter of Bowlen having grown tired of the Broncos’ wretched defense or his concern that the franchise needed a fresh face and a new voice.

I remember exactly where I was the moment I learned the Broncos had hired Josh McDaniels to be their new head coach. Don’t you?

I was in the press box at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, after the second-round playoff game between the Steelers and Chargers, in case you were wondering. But I digress.

I wrote this for the print edition of The Denver Post last week, part of our end-of-the-year package, but I’m going to post it again here, just so you all can relive some of the memories of what a nutty 365 days it has been since the McDaniels era began in Denver.

Enjoy.

Jan. 12: McDaniels, the 32-year-old former offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, is introduced at a press conference at Dove Valley. McDaniels signs a four-year contract worth $11.9 million.

Feb. 12: Team owner Pat Bowlen and McDaniels make a major move to shake up the front office by firing personnel executives (and father-son duo) Jim and Jeff Goodman, while Brian Xanders is named the sole general manager. Four days later, McDaniels and Xanders began purging the roster by simultaneously releasing six players on Feb. 16, including four players (Jamie Winborn, John Engleberger, Dewayne Robertson and Marquand Manuel) who were starters on the 2008 defense.

Feb. 28: On the first day of free agency, news breaks that McDaniels had looked into the possibility of a trading quarterback and bringing in Matt Cassel. The ensuing feud between Cutler and McDaniels became arguably the biggest story in the NFL last spring. Meanwhile, the Broncos made a major splash in free agency by signing more than a dozen players, including safeties Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill, cornerback Andre Goodman, running back Correll Buckhalter, wide receiver Jabar Gaffney and linebacker Andra Davis by the end of the first week of March.

April 2: The Cutler era in Denver officially ends when the Broncos send the quarterback to Chicago in exchange for Kyle Orton and a slew of draft picks, including two first rounders.

April 25: The Broncos surprise plenty of people when they draft running back Knowshon Moreno (No. 12) and outside linebacker Robert Ayers (No. 16) with their first-round draft picks, and select three more players in the second round (CB Alphonso Smith, S Darcel McBath and TE Richard Quinn). The Broncos would draft five more players on the second day of the draft.

June 15: Star wide receiver Brandon Marshall is a no-show at the team’s only mandatory minicamp. While he doesn’t participate in the workout (he was recovering from hip surgery), he meets with Bowlen and asks to be traded.

Aug. 14: The Broncos first preseason game was a disaster, with quarterback Kyle Orton (who had been booed earlier at a home scrimmage) throwing interceptions on the Broncos’ first three offensive series. Moreno, who held out and had just signed his rookie contract days before, sprained a ligament in his knee, an injury that would keep him out the rest of the preseason.

Aug. 28: Two days before a preseason game against Cutler and the Bears, McDaniels suspends Marshall for the remainder of the preseason for “conduct detrimental to the team” after Marshall’s poor behavior in a meeting and at practice the previous day.

Sept. 13: The Broncos open the McDaniels Era in dramatic fashion, with an improbable final-minute win at Cincinnati. Trailing 7-6, Orton’s pass intended for Marshall was tipped by a Bengal defensive back, but caught by Brandon Stokley, who ran free for an 87-yard touchdown.

Oct. 11: Matt Prater makes a 41-yard field goal in overtime to give the Broncos a 20-17 win against New England. The win sends McDaniels into as jubilant an on-field postgame celebration a head coach might have ever displayed. Eight days later, the Broncos beat AFC West rival on the road on Monday Night Football to improve to 6-0 going into the bye week.

Nov. 1: The Broncos stumble out of the bye week with a 30-7 loss at Baltimore, the first of four consecutive losses, including home losses to Pittsburgh and San Diego, both by double digits, and a road loss at Washington in which Orton leaves the game at halftime with a severely sprained ankle.

Nov. 24: Broncos snap the four-game losing streak with a dominating win on Thanksgiving night against the Giants, a game that will be equally be remembered for McDaniels’ profantity-laced sideline rant that aired across the country on NFL Network.

Dec. 20: Broncos lose to Oakland, 20-19, at home, despite playing the Raiders playing all three of their quarterbacks – Charlie Frye, JaMarcus Russell and even J.P. Losman in the game. The loss ended up severely damaging the Broncos’ playoffs hopes.

Jan. 1: McDaniels announces that Marshall (along with tight end Tony Scheffler) will be inactive for the season finale against Kansas City as a coach’s decision.

Jan. 3: Broncos lose 44-24 to the Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High to finish the season at 8-8, with a record of 2-8 in the final 10 games. The loss erased any slim hopes that were left of making the playoffs.

I remember the first phone interview I had with Josh McDaniels after he became the Broncos’ head coach. This was during Super Bowl week. I was in Tampa. He was back in his Dove Valley cocoon assembling a coaching staff, a game plan, training camp schedule, watching film, ranking the free-agent class, and whatever else went into creating the 2009 Broncos.

I told him then that if there was but one reason why he got the Broncos’ job, it was Matt Cassel.

“”I hope there’s a million reasons why,’’ McDaniels said then. “”That was one of them. While you’re coaching a team or a player, you don’t ever think about it as far as what it can do for me down the road. You’re just trying to do the best you can at that point in time.’’

McDaniels’ Broncos and Cassel’s Kansas City Chiefs meet for the first time as opponents Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. McDaniels was New England’s offensive coordinator in 2007 when the Pats’ record-setting 589 points was largely credited to quarterback Tom Brady. It wasn’t until Brady went down for the season in the 2008 opener that the football world starting taking a closer look at McDaniels. Brady’s replacement was Cassel, who had never started in four years at USC, never started in three years in the NFL.

Under McDaniels’ tutelage, Cassel directed the Pats to an 11-5 record. McDaniels passed on head coaching interviews the previous year, and his energy and smarts were so powerful during the interview process in January that Broncos owner Pat Bowlen might have hired, anyway, Cassel or no Cassel.

But bringing along Cassel was arguably the most impressive aspect of McDaniels’ candidacy.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.